List of heads of state of Paraguay

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This article contains a list of heads of state of Paraguay since the beginning of its independence (1811) to the present day.

Contents

Background

After Paraguay proclaimed independence from the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, its first effective head of state was utopist José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia, who ruled the country from 1814 until his death in 1840, with very little outside contact or influence. [1]

Since the establishment of the office of President of the Republic in 1844, during the family dictatorship of the López family (1841–1870), Paraguay had 51 presidents. Between the end of the Paraguayan War in 1870 and the 1954 coup d'état, the country changed 44 presidents; 24 of them were removed from power by force. [2] Eventually, Army General Alfredo Stroessner, supported by the Armed Forces and the right-wing Colorado Party, seized power in the 1954 coup d'état. Relying on the military and the party as the "twin pillars" of his rule, [3] and ruling in the single-party system until 1962, [4] Stroessner was elected for eight consecutive terms before being ousted from power in the 1989 coup d'état. His 35-year-long rule was one of the longest in history by a non-royal leader.

Non-presidential heads of state (1811–1844)

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officeNotes
Bernardo de Velasco retrato.jpg
Dictador Francia por Alborno.jpg
Juan Valeriano Cevallos.jpg
Bernardo de Velasco

José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia

Juan Valeriano de Zevallos
16 May 181117 June 1811Governor Intendants.
Fulgencio Yegros.jpg Fulgencio Yegros
(1780–1821)
17 June 181112 October 1813President of the Superior Governing Junta.
Dictador Francia por Alborno.jpg José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia
(1766–1840)
12 October 181312 February 1814Consul of the Republic.
Fulgencio Yegros.jpg Fulgencio Yegros
(1780–1821)
12 February 181412 June 1814Consul of the Republic.
Dictador Francia por Alborno.jpg José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia
(1766–1840)
12 June 18143 October 1814Consul of the Republic.
3 October 181430 May 1816Supreme Dictator.
30 May 181620 September 1840Perpetual Dictator. Died in office.
Manuel Antonio Ortiz.jpg Manuel Antonio Ortiz
(?–?)
20 September 184021 January 1841President of the Provisional Junta.
Juan Jose Medina 2.jpg Juan Jose Medina.jpg Juan José Medina

José Gabriel Benítez

José Domingo Ocampos
21 January 18419 February 1841Triumvirate.
Mariano Roque Alonso.jpg Mariano Roque Alonso
(1792–1853)
9 February 184112 March 1841General Commander of Arms.
Presidente Carlos Antonio Lopez.jpg Mariano Roque Alonso.jpg Carlos Antonio López

Mariano Roque Alonso
12 March 184113 March 1844Consuls of the Republic.

Presidents (1844–present)

List of presidents of the United States from 1789 – till date.
No.PortraitNameTermPartyElectionVice President
1 Presidente Carlos Antonio Lopez.jpg Carlos Antonio López
(1792–1862)
13 March 1844

10 September 1862
Unaffiliated Mariano González

Vacant from 1846 to 1862


Francisco Solano López

2 Francisco Solano Lopez Carrillo.jpg Francisco Solano López
(1827–1870)
10 September 1862

1 March 1870
Unaffiliated Domingo Francisco Sánchez
3 Facundo Machain.jpg Facundo Machaín
(1845–1877)
31 August 1870

September 1, 1870
UnaffiliatedVacant throughout
presidency
4 Cirilo Antonio Rivarola.jpg Cirilo Antonio Rivarola
(1832–1878)
1 September 1870

18 December 1871
Unaffiliated1870 Cayo Miltos

Salvador Jovellanos

5 Salvador Jovellanos.jpg Salvador Jovellanos
(1833–1881)
18 December 1871

November 25, 1874
UnaffiliatedVacant throughout
presidency
6 Presidente Gill.jpg Juan Baustista Gill
(1840–1877)
25 November 1874

12 April 1877
Unaffiliated1874 Higinio Uriarte
7 Hignio vicepresidente.jpg Higinio Uriarte
(1843–1909)
12 April 1877

25 November 1878
UnaffiliatedVacant throughout
presidency
8 Candido Bareiro.jpg Cándido Bareiro
(1834–1880)
25 November 1878

4 September 1880
Unaffiliated1878 Adolfo Saguier
9 Bernardino Caballero Melgarejo.jpg Bernardino Caballero
(1839–1912)
4 September 1880

25 November 1886
Unaffiliated

1882

Vacant

Juan Antonio Jara

10 Patricio Escobar Caceres (cropped).jpg Patricio Escobar
(1843–1912)
25 November 1886

25 November 1890
Colorado

(from 1887)

1886José del Rosario Miranda
11 Juan G Gonzalez.jpg Juan Gualberto González
(1851–1912)
25 November 1890

9 June 1894
Colorado 1890 Marcos Morínigo
12 Vice marco antonio.jpg Marcos Morínigo
(1848–1901)
9 June 1894

25 November 1894
Colorado Vacant throughout
presidency
13 Gral. Egusquiza (cropped).jpg Juan Bautista Egusquiza
(1845–1902)
25 November 1894

25 November 1898
Colorado 1894Facundo Ynsfrán Caballero
14 Emilio Aceval Band (cropped).jpg Emilio Aceval
(1851–1931)
25 November 1898

9 January 1902
Colorado 1898 Andrés Héctor Carvallo
15 Hector Carvallo.jpg Andrés Héctor Carvallo
(1862–1934)
9 January 1902

25 November 1902
Colorado Vacant throughout
presidency
16 Presidente Escurra.jpg Juan Antonio Escurra
(1859–1929)
25 November 1902

19 December 1904
Colorado 1902Manuel Domínguez
17 Juan B Gaona (cropped)2.jpg Juan Bautista Gaona
(1845–1932)
19 December 1904

9 December 1905
Liberal Vacant throughout
presidency
18 CECILIO BAEZ.jpg Cecilio Báez
(1862–1941)
9 December 1905

25 November 1906
Liberal Vacant throughout
presidency
19 Dr. Benigno Ferreira (cropped).jpg Benigno Ferreira
(1846–1920)
25 November 1806

4 July 1908
Liberal 1806 Emiliano González Navero
20 Emiliano Gonzalez Navero (cropped).jpg Emiliano González Navero
(1861–1841)
4 July 1908

25 November 1910
Liberal Vacant throughout
presidency
21 Manuel Gondra (cropped).jpg Manuel Gondra
(1872–1927)
25 November 1910

17 January 1911
Liberal 1910 Juan Bautista Gaona
22 Presidente Albino Jara (cropped).jpg Albino Jara
(1877–1912)
17 January 1911

5 July 1911
Liberal Vacant throughout
presidency
23 Liberato Rojas (cropped).jpg Liberato Marcial Rojas
(1870–1922)
5 July 1911

28 February 1912
Liberal Vacant throughout
presidency
24 Pedro Pablo Pena (cropped).jpg Pedro Pablo Peña
(1864–1943)
28 February 1912

22 March 1912
Colorado Vacant throughout
presidency
(20) Emiliano Gonzalez Navero (cropped).jpg Emiliano González Navero
(1861–1841)
22 March 1912

15 August 1912
Liberal Vacant throughout
presidency
25 Eduardo Schaerer (cropped).jpg Eduardo Schaerer
(1873–1941)
15 August 1912

15 August 1916
Liberal 1912Pedro Bobadilla
26 Manuel Franco (cropped).jpg Manuel Franco
(1871–1919)
15 August 1916

5 June 1919
Liberal 1916 José Pedro Montero
27 Jose P. Montero (cropped).jpg José Pedro Montero
(1878–1927)
5 June 1919

15 August 1920
Liberal Vacant throughout
presidency
(21) Gondra presidente (cropped).jpg Manuel Gondra
(1872–1927)
15 August 1920

7 November 1921
Liberal 1920 Félix Paiva
28 Eusebio Ayala21 (cropped).jpg Eusebio Ayala
(1875–1942)
7 November 1921

12 April 1923
Liberal Vacant throughout
presidency
29 Eligio Ayala 1924 (cropped).jpg Eligio Ayala
(1878–1930)
12 April 1923

17 March 1924
Liberal Vacant throughout
presidency
30 Luis Riart (cropped).jpg Luis Alberto Riart
(1880–1953)
17 March 1924

15 August 1924
Liberal Vacant throughout
presidency
(29) Eligio Ayala 1924 (cropped).jpg Eligio Ayala
(1878–1930)
15 August 1924

15 August 1928
Liberal 1924Manuel Burgos
31 Jose Patricio Guggiari (cropped).jpg José Patricio Guggiari
(1884–1957)
15 August 1928

15 August 1932
Liberal 1928 Emiliano González Navero
(28) Eusebio Ayala retrato (cropped).jpg Eusebio Ayala
(1875–1942)
15 August 1932

17 February 1936
Liberal 1932Raúl Casal Ribeiro
32 Rafael Franco (cropped).jpg Rafael Franco
(1896–1973)
17 February 1936

15 August 1937
UnaffiliatedVacant throughout
presidency
33 Expresidente Felix Paiva (cropped).jpg Félix Paiva
(1877–1965)
15 August 1937

15 August 1939
Liberal Vacant throughout
presidency
34 Retrato del Mariscal Estigarribia (cropped).jpg José Félix Estigarribia
(1888–1940)
15 August 1939

7 September 1940
Unaffiliated

(from 1940)

1939 Luis Alberto Riart

Position abolished

35 Morinigo py (cropped).jpg Higinio Morínigo
(1897–1983)
7 September 1940

3 June 1948
Unaffiliated

1943

Position abolished
36 Manuel Frutos.jpg Juan Manuel Frutos
(1879–1960)
3 June 1948

15 August 1948
Colorado Position abolished
37 Juan natalicio gonzalez.jpg Juan Natalicio González
(1897–1966)
15 August 1948

30 January 1949
Colorado 1948Position abolished
38 Gral. Rolon (cropped).jpg Raimundo Rolón
(1903–1981)
30 February 1949

26 February 1949
Colorado Position abolished
39 Felipe Molas Lopez (cropped).jpg Felipe Molas López
(1901–1954)
26 February 1949

11 September 1949
Colorado

1949

Position abolished
40 Federico Chaves (cropped).jpg Federico Chaves
(1882–1978)
11 September 1949

4 May 1954
Colorado

1950


1953

Position abolished
41 Arq. Tomas Romero Pereira (cropped).jpg Tomás Romero Pereira
(1886–1982)
4 May 1954

15 August 1954
Colorado Position abolished
42 Alfredo Stroessner at desk (cropped) (cropped).jpg Alfredo Stroessner
(1912–2006)
15 August 1954

3 February 1989
Colorado 1954

1958


1963


1968


1973


1978


1983


1988

Position abolished
43 Andres Rodriguez Pedotti (cropped)2.png Andrés Rodríguez
(1923–1997)
3 February 1989

15 August 1993
Colorado 1989 Position abolished
44 Medalha de Galiza 1995 - c1 (cropped)2.jpg Juan Carlos Wasmosy
(b. 1938)
15 August 1993

15 August 1998
Colorado 1993 Ángel Seifart
45 Cardoso cubas presidente do paraguai (cropped).jpg Raúl Cubas
(b. 1943)
15 August 1998

28 March 1999
Colorado 1998 Luis María Argaña
46 Genaro Sanchez Susana Galli Luis Gonzalez Macchi Teresita Lopez Moreira (cropped).jpg Luis González Macchi
(b. 1947)
28 March 1999

15 August 2003
Colorado Vacant

Julio César Franco


Vacant

47 Nestor Kirchner y Nicanor Duarte Frutos-Buenos Aires-Febrero 2004 (cropped).jpg Nicanor Duarte Frutos
(b. 1956)
15 August 2003

15 August 2008
Colorado 2003 Luis Castiglioni

Francisco Oviedo

48 Presidente Correa se reune con Fernando Lugo (8311621234) (cropped).jpg Fernando Lugo
(b. 1951)
15 August 2008

22 June 2012
Christian

Democrat

(APC)

2008 Federico Franco
49 Federico Franco 1 (cropped)2.jpg Federico Franco
(b. 1962)
22 June 2012

15 August 2013
Liberal Oscar Denis
50 MC11 opening ceremony, 10 December 2017 (27205293469) (cropped) (cropped).jpg Horacio Cartes
(b. 1956)
15 August 2013

15 August 2018
Colorado 2013 Juan Afara

Alicia Pucheta

51 Sergio Mattarella Mario Abdo Benitez (cropped).jpg Mario Abdo
(b. 1971)
15 August 2018

15 August 2023
Colorado 2018 Hugo Velázquez
52 Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden visits the USA and UNGA. (53206033761) (cropped)2.jpg Santiago Peña
(b. 1978)
15 August 2023

Incumbent
Colorado 2023 Pedro Alliana

Timeline

Santiago PeñaMario Abdo BenítezHoracio CartesFederico FrancoFernando LugoNicanor DuarteLuis Ángel González MacchiRaúl CubasJuan Carlos WasmosyAndrés RodríguezAlfredo StroessnerTomás Romero PereiraFederico ChavesFelipe Molas LópezRaimundo RolónJuan Natalicio GonzálezJuan Manuel FrutosHiginio MorínigoJosé Félix EstigarribiaRafael FrancoJosé Patricio GuggiariLuis Alberto RiartEligio AyalaEusebio AyalaFélix PaivaJosé Pedro MonteroManuel FrancoEduardo SchaererPedro Pablo PeñaAlfredo AponteMario UscherMarcos Caballero CodasLiberato Marcial RojasAlbino JaraManuel GondraEmiliano González NaveroBenigno FerreiraCecilio BáezJuan Bautista GaonaJuan Antonio EscurraAndrés Héctor CarvalloEmilio AcevalJuan Bautista EgusquizaMarcos MorínigoJuan Gualberto GonzálezPatricio EscobarBernardino CaballeroCándido BareiroHiginio UriarteJuan Bautista GillSalvador JovellanosFacundo MachaínJosé Díaz de BedoyaCarlos LoizagaCirilo Antonio RivarolaFrancisco Solano LópezCarlos Antonio LópezMariano Roque AlonzoJosé CamposJosé Gabriel BenítezJuan José MedinaManuel Antonio OrtizFulgencio YegrosJuan Valeriano de ZevallosJosé Gaspar Rodríguez de FranciaBernardo de VelascoList of heads of state of Paraguay

See also

Notes

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    References

    1. War of The Triple Alliance Archived 7 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine , War of the Pacific. Retrieved 14 November 2010
    2. Hanratty, Dannin M.; Meditz, Sandra W. (1988). "Paraguay: A Country Study". Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
    3. "Paraguay: The Twin Pillars of the Stroessner Regime". Library of Congress Country Studies. Archived from the original on 9 January 2009.
    4. "Paraguay: Opposition Parties". Library of Congress Country Studies. Archived from the original on 9 January 2009.